38-point win gives Duncanville its 7th state title in school history

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"We were pretty hungry," Duncanville coach Cathy Self-Morgan said after getting career victory No. 915. "I expected (the win). Duncanville is the city of champions."

Duncanville (40-1) won its seventh state championship but first since 2003. Self-Morgan said she expected to win a trophy, but few saw a rout in the making.

Spring Dekaney (40-2), an upstart by comparison, cruised into its first state championship game on a 40-game winning streak, only to flop in one of the biggest routs in 5A championship game history. Dekaney completely collapsed under Duncanville's pressure defense and was 8 of 39 shooting from the field. Duncanville led 24-3 after the first quarter and 41-9 by halftime.

It was the most lopsided 5A girls basketball state championship game ever, besting Mansfield's 69-43 win over Plano in 2000. The good news for Dekaney: It wasn't the biggest blowout in UIL history among all classifications. In 1958, Sulphur Springs North Hopkins beat Collinsville, 86-28, in a state final.

"They came out on fire," Dekaney coach Stacey Stroman said. "Everything they threw at us, we struggled with."

Dekaney' 31 points were the second fewest in 5A championship game history. Duncanville scored 22 points off 22 turnovers and dominated the rebounding 46-23.

"That's what we do. Play defense, rebound and force turnovers," said Bolton, who scored 12 points and directed most of Duncanville's fast breaks.

Davenport, who has signed with the University of Texas, was named championship game most valuable player.

The Pantherettes took apart Dekaney with ruthless efficiency. Davenport opened the game with a 3-pointer and Duncanville's defense did the rest in a first quarter that all but ended the game after just eight minutes.

Duncanville hounded Dekaney's guards on the perimeter, turning eight first quarter turnovers into 10 points. Every steal and rebound was an opportunity for a fast break. On one play, Davenport ripped down a rebound, twirled and fired a crosscourt pass to Foman for an easy layup. Seconds later, Foman picked the ball from Dekaney's Shunta Nevitt and raced her to the basket for another easy score.

Dekaney was simply overwhelmed. The Wildcats got few open looks and missed their first 10 shots. Dekaney didn't score a field goal until the 6:38 mark in the second quarter on a basket by Alexis Durley that made it 26-6.

Duncanville could sense it was time to go for the kill. Bolton grabbed a rebound and led a 2-on-1 break that ended with a behind-the-back pass to Davenport for an easy layup.

Davenport had 13 points and Bolton scored 12 in the first two quarters to give Duncanville a 41-9 lead going into halftime. Dekaney was just 2 of 19 shooting in the half with 14 turnovers that Duncanville turned into 16 points.

Dekaney was clearly frustrated at their helplessness to stop Duncanville's withering pressure and relentless tempo. Late in the second quarter, Durley swung a hard elbow that nearly caught Davenport in the nose. Durley, who has signed with Cincinnati, fouled out early in the third quarter with just four points and her team trailing 50-14.

Duncanville pushed the lead as high as 58-16 in the third when Davenport blew past a group of defenders who watched her coast in for an easy layup.

"I didn't think the score would look anything like this," Davenport said. "But we played as a team."

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